Thankfully, a window in the wet weather last Sunday enabled six local gardens to be opened by their owners in support of Lansdown Open Gardens.
The gardens were located in the Primrose Hill, Sion Hill and Richmond Hill areas of Bath.
Despite continuous rain the previous day and heavy downpours the following day, the rain held off on Sunday, enabling over 500 people to enjoy a fabulous day out.
Central to this annual event were the gardens, which offered a wide variety of styles, aspects, outlooks, horticultural interest, but also fun and humour, with one garden ornament representing a naughty spirit stealing plants.
To accompany visits to the gardens was a very busy plant sale on St Stephen’s Millennium Green. The plants were grown locally and donated by residents.
Another well-known part of the day was tea and cakes. Forty delicious homemade cakes were donated by local residents to ensure a glorious spread from ever-popular Victoria sponge cakes to Marmalade and Ricotta, Orange and Almond, Coffee, Carrot and Walnut cakes.
The event was coordinated with St Stephen’s Church, which has a week of celebration and thanksgiving from 7th to 14th June marking the retirement of the much-loved Reverent Phillip Hawthorn after 16 years in the parish.
Lansdown Open Gardens is organised entirely by local volunteers.
On Monday, a BBQ was held to thank volunteers and garden owners for their contributions in making the day such a success and raising £6000.
The funds go towards the maintenance of St Stephen’s Millennium Green, which is a delightful garden open to all.
For more information, visit www.millenniumgreen.org.uk.
